

Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means the way it flows changes under stress.If a hagfish is stressed, it releases a small amount of slime (less than a teaspoon) which instantly expands by 10,000 times! To stay safe at night, parrotfish produce mucus cocoons to sleep in. When opossums feel threatened, they play dead and release a smelly mucus to ward off the predator. Some animals produce slime as a defense against predators.When slime gets stretched, the polymer chains unfold and straighten out, which is why slime can stretch without breaking. Before slime is stretched out, its polymer chains are all scrunched up. Glue contains flexible chain-like molecules called polymers.

If they don’t, start a discussion using the questions below! During this activity, natural questions may come up.
